Reducio

★ Open for responses ★ Text ★ Speech ★

Eryn had left her parents a couple of stations ago. After attempting to bring them to diagon ally, she had learnt that some people (or 'muggles', as everyone who walked the wizard streets insisted on calling them. Honestly, with such an array of muggle born students coming to Hogwarts every year, you'd expect that they'd stop treating muggles like an animal at a zoo.) were just not fit for the wizarding world.

She herself hadn't exactly been comfortable on the bustling streets. But the magic in the air at least felt somewhat familiar to her. As well as being wildly impressive- and very cool.

Her step sister, at least, had been good about it- taking charge and happily chatting with shopkeepers while they attempted to track down all her books. She had tried to come into the station with Eryn, but the witch had asked her to stay with her parents. After a short session of bartering, they had agreed. At the cost of weekly letters and her empty notebooks from back home. The loss of her possessions didn't bother her much though- with how she and Mila were, she'll have traded them back and forth multiple times by the end of the month.

She looked on her ticket. 9. Platform 9. That was where she was-

3/4?

"How can you have 3/4 of a platform?" she mumbles to herself, trying to conceal the worry that is starting to creep into her mind.

For a moment, she paused to wrestle with her breathing. Maybe it was something only those with magic could see? Eryn scanned the floor- the station, the roof. She briefly considered walking closer to the tracks to check those out, but the train that screamed to a halt beside her quickly made her change her mind.

Good thing it did, too. Because at that moment, while the rest of the people milled around, a family wandered up to the platform. A father, and his two sons. There was no doubt about it- they were wizards. After all, most people don't take brooms on the train, and as far as Eryn's aware, owls aren't a common English pet.

Before she could approach them to ask for help, they disappeared. Straight through a wall.

She tried to ignore the way her heartbeat had picked up, running away from her. What if it was a test? or if she'd missed somewhere on the letter where it told you how to walk through walls? Had they forgotten to mention it?

Surely to get to the world's best magic school, she would have to do more than just walk through a wall.

Right?

─────His nonno’s grip was like iron clenching his hand. It hurt badly. Yet he didn’t dare say anything about it glancing up at the elder man's face. A hard set grimace mixed with disgust and hatred in eyes that glanced around as if everyone was out to get them. Nico had always thought of his nonno as paranoid. But it was worse now, the boy didn’t understand why, he never understood when it came to him. Despite being raised by him, the eleven year old still had so many unanswered questions. All he knew was that his nonno apparently seemed intimidating to many, even his own father seemed scared of him? If that was even the right word, but Nico couldn’t see it. His father may be scared of the man that was his father, but Nico was far from fearing the elder man. Not when it was the same man who stayed with him till he fell asleep after a nightmare, the same man who’s always helped him when he was under the weather. The man who’s taught him everything.

Yet the look of disgust, and hardset hatred on nonno's face. It scared him,

“Nonno, per favore. Mi fa male la mano.” With his free hand he tried to pry his nonno’s hand off his own. The death grip too much for Nico to bear any longer with the practically murderous look on his nonno’s face. They stopped in the middle of the station, everyone walking around the suddenly stopped duo. His grandfather looked at him with the same face he glared at everyone around them currently. Nico flinched and stilled, free hand falling back down to his side.

“Scusa.” Nico’s voice was soft and hard to makeout over the endless chatter and busybodies clouding the air of sound. His tone was regretful as his eyes darted to the floor. He wanted to rub his hands together and pick at his skin to distract himself from the way his nonno looked at him. Instead all he could do was bite the inside of his cheek as he nervously awaited for a reply of some sort. Tension filled his body as his breath hitched.

“Vieni qui, fammi vedere.” The grip on his hand all but ceased to exist as his nonno let go. His voice the usual monotone it always was, there wasn’t any anger. Looking up, his nonno’s face returned to the normal impassive look he grew accustomed to. Nico let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Why would he ever be afraid of his grandfather? He was just irritated or angry but it wasn’t at him. It wasn't at him. He lifted his right hand for his nonno to grab and inspect, it was slightly red from pressure but there were no wounds or marks.

“Tieni stretto questo. Non lasciarlo andare, capito?” His nonno spoke, holding out his coat sleeve for Niico to hold onto instead.

Nico nodded his head. “Capito.”

The rest of the walk was quiet, without any interruption his nonno maneuvered them both through the crowd of people. Looks of disgust quickly hidden underneath his usual unbothered face each time someone's shoulders connected with his own, or they got too close to him and Nico for his liking. They were about to walk through the wall to get to the proper platform to board the express when Nico heard someone mutter a question to themselves. He stilled and looked around, his grandfather’s eyes turning inquisitively to the boy. Nico gestured with his head and eyes to the girl holding the ticket and looking at the wall. His grandfather took his own hand running it from underneath his chin to have four fingers directed at Nico. Nico directed towards the girl again pointing with his thumb in her direction.

“Tsk.” The clicking sound his Nonno made was dismissive, usually an end all action. Granting no room to go against the elder man’s judgment. Yet Nico insisted onward, tugging his nonno’s coat sleeve gently. The man scowled but granted Nico’s request, allowing the boy to take the lead as they approached the girl.

“Mi scuso, signora.” The boy cleared his throat, trying to think of the English words for the call of attention. “Excuse me ma’am, you’re looking for the platform right?” He gestured to the ticket in her hand and back to the wall.

“It’s really simple, it’s just through there.” A jeweled hand rested on his shoulder, his nonno. Nico didn’t even realize he had let go of the man’s coat sleeve to talk to the girl his age. “It’s okay if you don’t believe me but didn’t you just see the family from earlier go through?” Doubt started to trail through Nico’s mind, the hands he talked with falling to his sides as his voice trailed off.

“Well… You are looking for Hogwarts, right?” His question was hopeful and filled with doubt, his voice nearing a crack. The hand on Nico’s shoulder firmly applied light pressure, Nico couldn’t tell if it was his nonno trying to reassure him or a warning for how pathetic he was displaying himself in public.

Reducio

★ Open for responses ★ Text ★ Speech ★ Interacting with: @Nico Romano★

Eryn whirls around away from the train, and finds herself staring straight at the wall. She looks around once more, before looking nervously down at her ticket.

A voice cut through the crowd. The words were unfamiliar though- not English or anything Latin American. Throughout the years Eryn’s picked up the basics of many languages- but this one is unfamiliar.

Signora? Like Señora? Was he talking to her?

The question was answered quickly when he swapped to english. Thank god- he knew what to do. She nodded quickly.

“Really? Just through the wall?” She asked simply, before turning to thank him. “Thank you so much, you’re a lifesaver”

She didn’t like the way the older man was looking at her- but it was familiar. When she was smaller and still visited Brazil with her mother, her tía looked the same way when her mother talked about her friends in England.

Fear, a mix of protectiveness and worry. Hidden behind a wall of apparent judgement.

When she was 6, she had visited her tia for the last time before she moved to her father’s home in England. She hadn’t known it then, and had spent the time wishing her away. Every time she mentioned her friends back home, or her new favorite sports team, her aunt would get that look. She had wondered why she wasn’t nicer, or at least not so judgmental about her interests.

Her má always told her not to worry, that her tía was just sad that they didn’t visit more.

“Don’t worry, meu anjo,”My angel she had said, pulling her daughter into a hug “Your tía is just resentful. She wishes you could have grown up here, with ella y tus abuelos" Her and your grandparents

She misses those days, jumping between languages without a second thought and spending nights whispering to her cousins. But at least in this situation, she thinks she knows what’s going on. He’s just protective.

She hoped that was it, at least. If not, maybe he really just thought he was above everyone else. Or that she had just kicked a puppy.

The jeweled hand on his shoulder could signal wealth. She’d be surprised if it didn’t , from the way both of them were dressed. Not necessarily formal, but far from the casual clothes she wore.

The boy was nice though. She could tell he was making an effort, even if the older man (His grandfather? Perhaps. He looked too old to be his father.) looked on edge. She had immediately calmed down when he mentioned Hogwarts, and had managed to think herself out of her spiral Silly. Why would there be a test so soon? They would have mentioned it. .

She let out a small sigh of relief. Another student from her school, and a nice one at that. Maybe this day wouldn’t be so bad after all.

“I’m Eryn. This’ll be my first year.” he can probably tell, by the inability to find the platform… despite the thought, she pushes ahead with the interaction. “It’s nice to meet you”

She glances up at the other man, nervously catching his eye “And you, too.”

─────Nico smiled, his earlier nervousness disappearing with the girl's confirmation. So she was going to Hogwarts, great, fantastic even. Now he just had to make a bit of small talk, that shouldn’t be too hard right? He just had to talk. His left hand grabbed the fabric of his trousers, trying his best to keep his hand from visibly shaking. A new on-set of nausea sunk in as he tried to take a deep breath.

“Yup right through that wall, some people run through it but I don’t really know why.” Nico began to ramble in an over-explanation. His right hand attempted to make up for his left hand’s current incapacitation by gesturing more often than usual.

“You can just walk in afterall, I think they run just because they're scared or to help ease their nerves though. Which is understandable I guess, kind of? It makes sense. It's just hard to understand.” His right hand ran through his hair with a slight shake. “Well not really, and oh I’m rambling my apologies.”

Nico’s hand fell back to his side as his left adjusted the hold he had on the khaki fabric. He used his right thumb to point to the man standing behind him.

“This is my grandfather, and I’m Nico. Nico Romano.” He held out his hand for her to shake. “I’m a first year student too, it’s really nice to meet you Eryn.” Before Eryn could take his hand even if she’d like to, his nonno lightly smacked the boy's hand down.

“Cosa è stato quello, nonno?” He looked up behind his shoulder to catch a glimpse of the grey haired man's face.

“Potrebbe essere un sangue di fango.” That was the only reply he got as his grandfather's grip on his shoulder tightened. There was that term again. Sangue di fango, what was the word in english? Right, mudblood. He’s heard the term a few times in his life, he still remembers the lecture his nonno had given him about them. Un-pure, below them, useless, a blight on the history of magic and magic itself. His nonno had always made it clear that they were worse than muggles, and if he ever came into contact with one to smile and nod but wash heavily afterward.

“Potrebbe essere solo una mezza-sangue.” He pleaded with his nonno. Nico didn’t want to cut an interaction short all because of a possibility that she could be a mudblood. It was just as possible she was a half-blood, more acceptable to interact with. He wanted her to be a half-blood. She seemed nice, if she was the same year as Nico then they could maybe be friends. If she was a mudblood nonno would never approve of him interacting with her unless necessary. Nico didn’t want that, he wanted a friend.

“Stai lavando appena sali su quel treno, capito Nico?” The man hissed in his ear, tone low and hard to hear if you weren’t standing right next to him. But a warning tone all the same. Both his hands rested on Nico’s shoulders now, as if ready to pull the boy back if the intersection went further then he pleased.

“Romano. Lorenzo Romano, pleasure to make your acquaintance young miss.” Lorenzo spoke in a thin greeting. Nico let out a small sigh of relief, the tension leaving his body only for his shoulders to receive a light squeeze. The boy immediately straightened back up, he had managed to get his way this time, but he still was expected to listen to his nonno’s word. He was family, and the head of it after all, Nico knew he already spent all the patience his grandfather had left to give. He wasn’t willing to see his nonno past that point, Nico didn’t re-offer his hand out to her.

“Again sorry about earlier. I um, hope we can be friends yeah, if not that’s totally okay.” Nico nervously spoke with a smile. Trying to be friendly, and make up for the deadpan expression he was sure his nonno was giving Eryn.

Reducio

★ Open for responses ★ Text ★ Speech ★ Interacting with: @Nico Romano

He smiled, and Eryn mirrored it. Ok. She mustn't have said anything too wrong just yet. She noticed, however, the shaking of Nico’s hands. She was nervous too, but her hands never shake. Instead the feeling manifests it in shorter than normal sentences and a break from the grand gestures she normally makes when she speaks. When under pressure she freezes up- like she’s a rabbit that’s been spotted by a cat or a deer in headlights.

He’s nervous too. That’s normal then. Just keep going, you’ll be fine.

“Run? Why??? That just sounds more stressful.” Her face split into a goofy grin, an attempt to break the ice. “I’ll stick to walking, I think.”

Running. that explains the speed of the youngest son from earlier when he raced through the wall, leading the way for his family. Honestly though, she'd rather walk. On the off chance the wall wasn’t actually some kind of strange portal, she would rather feel her hand against cold stone than realise once she was lying on the floor with her stuff flung everywhere.

“Don’t apologise. I’m a bit of a rambler too. Particularly with plants- i’m definitely looking forward to herbology”
It was true. Plants, and animals. When she had been told that there was a class purely for plants, she was thrilled. That was the one thing she had missed in her dad’s little apartment in london.

Not that that stopped her from filling the gap with an absurd amount of houseplants.

She went to shake his hand, and then quickly brought it up to run through her hair instead when the older man pushed Nico’s down. Ah. awkward.

Eryn didn’t have much luggage, just a single trunk and a worn looking sports bag which holds all of her school books. However the bag has a handful of pins scattered across the side, and she fiddled absentmindedly with one while she talks.

“Nico. Are you from Italy then?” maybe that was the language. She had never really spent much time in Italy. That was funny, considering how often she had been around Europe. However, most of the time she stayed in the UK with her dad, or in the northernmost European countries on trips with her mother.

She watched as the two talked back and forth. It’s a little worrying. She can tell Nico’s grandfather doesn’t like her, but Nico seems persistent to convince him otherwise. It’s a relief when the older man introduces himself. Whew. Nico won. For now.

“Thank you Sir.” she said, nodding politely.

“Sure. Hey, do you wanna sit on the train together? I’d really love to have someone to show me the ropes.” She hopes she doesn’t sound too pushy- but it’s worth a shot. Plus, she’d love to properly introduce herself to Nico without his grandfather peering over his shoulder.

That’s assuming the boy didn’t have other friends. He was obviously born a wizard- his confidence when explaining about the platform made that clear. I hope he stays. He seems so nice

─────Nico let out a soft laugh, an edge of nervousness still there as it melted away into something more at ease yet awkward all the same. “Exactly! Besides it closes at exactly the train departure time, if they’re late it’s like asking to slam into a brick wall.” He motioned with one of his hands crashing into his other with a grin. “Bam, just like that and you’ll be knocked out for day’s I tell you.”

The hands on his shoulders were stiff, the light pressure grounding. However cold his nonno was, Nico was grateful for him. He taught him, raised him, and without him right now he probably wouldn’t have been able to even get a word in without excusing himself out of embarrassment. Even if the elder man was obviously against Nico talking with Eryn at least he hadn’t gone silent and just pushed Nico through the wall to the platform yet. Yet.

“Oh herbology? I’ve never been that interested in it to be honest.” Nico rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “I’ve always been more interested in defense against the dark arts and charms. But I have nothing against herbology either just to let you know, it seems interesting, it's just never really been an interest of mine.” Oh great, he was blowing it. Now she was going to think he was ridiculing her interests or didn’t see them as important and his whole chance to be her friend was over with.

“I’d always be interested in listening though, maybe you could teach me about it? And I could maybe share some of my knowledge with you as well?” He added on in a desperate attempt to salvage the conversation. Not wanting to ruin his only chance to make a friend his age so earlier on in the school year. Who even knew if he’d get this opportunity again.

Nico gave Eryn an apologetic half-smile when his hand was knocked away.

“Well actually-”

“He’s Italian, but born here in Londra. His parents, I and my wife, however, are all born and raised in Rome, Italy.” Lorenzo interjected before Nico could even start his own sentence, the boy frowned but stayed silent. “Do not thank me, do well in school both of you. And do not distract him from his studies.” Lorenzo gave her a thin smile, “Of course, do not get distracted from your own as well.”

As his nonno went quiet and the offer to sit with her on the train went through his ears Nico smiled fully, eagerness in his blue eyes that matched his grandfathers exactly. This time Nico interjected before Lorenzo could answer for him, again.

“Yes of course, I’d love that.” He replied, relief obviously present in his tone. He wouldn’t have to be alone, he didn’t blow it. They could be friends, he could potentially have his first Hogwarts friend. He didn’t notice the look of disapproval in his nonno’s face as the man gazed down at Eryn judgingly.

“I can show you the ropes and you can tell me more about herbology on the train ride before we get there, it's a win-win situation!” The tightening grip on his shoulder let him clearly know he would be receiving a very angry red letter soon enough, yet for once Nico didn’t seem to care. Much to happy on the prospect of getting to know someone and having a potential friend than any scolding he’d be receiving later in the day.

“Well come on then. Let’s head onto the platform and make it to the train, I don’t want to end up as a Nico pancake on that brick wall if we're late.” He looked up to get a glimpse of his nonno’s face. The man only hummed in agreement, seemingly the one thing he could agree with from this entire encounter.

Reducio

★ Open for responses ★ Text ★ Speech ★ Interacting with: @Nico Romano★

“Imagine turning up to the first day of school with a concussion from running into a wall” she laughed, miming falling over backwards. As she gets more comfortable, gestures begin to leak into her movements. It's as if every word has a corresponding action. Quick, obvious to everyone but her who carries along as if she's unaware of the habit.


Eryn will admit she's a little disappointed when she learns that Nico doesn't like herbology. But it didn't phase her much. None of her friends back home really got her love for such things either. It probably didn't help that they were all the sporty crowd- but she got what she could. Besides understanding or not- the other girls in her teams were like family.

“No, I get that. It’s not for everyone. I don’t think I'll be much of a charms person- I can’t ever focus on bookwork. Are charms practical? I guess I'll find out!” She took a breath , tilting her head to the side.

“I guess you get to learn magic, so it can't be too bad...”

Her words trailed off into obvious thought, and she stayed silent for a minute before bringing up a finger in obvious excitement

“I’ll make you a deal- I’ll help you with any potions or herbology, and you give me tips for defence and charms.”

Was that too much to ask? She didn't really know, and she doubts he does either. Maybe she'll hate herbology, and it won't be what she wanted at all.

Somehow, though, she doubted it.

She also doubted she'll need too much help with schoolwork. But it never hurts to be sure- and she's always preferred studying with another person she can bounce ideas off.

Eryn simply nodded at the older man. Child of another country, born right here in the beating heart of england. Just like her. Who knows, maybe she'd pick up some Italian. Make her mother proud.

Nah. Three languages is enough.

Now for the moment of truth. Will I be alone on the train? Will he say yes? Will he? “Great!” she doesn't even try to mask her excitement. It will be nice to have a friend, someone to rant to and seek out on lonely days on the school grounds. She's always maintained that if she were to go to a boarding school like Hogwarts, she'd want a solid group of friends. And this seems like a good start.

She wanted to ask him more about the school, but something told her the ignorance wouldn’t be well received by Nico’s grandfather. Perhaps that particular line of questioning should wait until they were on the platform.

She snorts at the joke. “How could we be friends if you were a pancake?? People would think I was crazy! ‘Oh, that's Eryn” she mocks, voice raising to a higher tone. “she talks to pancakes!”

At that, she grabbed his hand and her face split into a mischievous grin. Without a second thought Eryn stepped through the barrier, dragging him behind her.

The sensation was strange in that it wasn't. It was as if she's just stepped through nothing, and space has changed around her. There's none of the stomach turning sickness she had expected, just a slight sense of unease.

Nothing that's not quickly overtaken by wonder, however.

She was faced with a crowd of wizards and witches. Screeches of caged birds and the sobs of saddened parents that are all but visible in the flood of steam that rolls off a large red steam train.

Eryn watched a group of older children rush past, momentarily forgetting the boy next to her.

“Woah…” now this is the kind of place she could get used to. Another world, right under their fingers. She felt vastly underprepared. Unlike them she was not wearing robes, or strange hats. Their trollies were full with strange looking bags and misshapen parcels.

It's not a terrible feeling, though. She knew that next year if all goes to plan, she'll arrive in a similar fashion. An unexpected pet- an owl, maybe. Or a ferret. An extra trunk to carry everything she didn't realise she would need the first time round. And then, she'll have the sense of direction all these people have.

Of course, she and Nico are not the only first years. It's easy to pick them out among the crowd- the youngest travellers suffering through extended goodbyes to loved ones, wearing clothes that don't quite fit and masks of excitement and looking slightly overwhelmed.

“it's so…” Beautiful. Loud. Magical. Awe inspiring. “Alive.” She settled on the word, letting it roll over her tongue. Yes, alive was right.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
Date: September 1st, 2023 | Outfit: X
────────────────────────────────

─────“Mhmm,” Nico hummed in agreement. “I’d much prefer to not get a concussion anytime soon anyway. The headache must be splitting.” He joked. Eryn seemed to make just as many gestures as he did when talking, it helped calm down any insecurity before it could start blooming in his chest.

“Really practical actually, there’s about a charm for almost everything you need. There are even charms that help with regular housework or opening doors. It’s honestly pretty interesting thinking about all the spells out there that people can use for so many different reasons.” The boy's hands kept close to his body, yet gestured along with his wording subconsciously to help convey and express himself.

“It’s a deal then,” Nico exclaimed with a nod. At least this way he wouldn’t go about failing herbology in the very first semester when he got to the school. If she was willing to teach him then he would be guaranteed to at least not fail, and it gave them more of a reason to interact. Nico wasn’t an expert on friends and how they worked, but he was almost certain you only could become friends with someone by interacting with them often enough. It was two birds with one stone and he was internally grateful for that. And she got to benefit too, and he could talk about his own interests as well. So he didn’t need to go and feel guilty about taking advantage of Eryn’s knowledge and not providing anything in return.

“Oh wow I never even thought of that, you would become the resident crazy lady of the school then. Can’t have that so I guess we’ll have to put off the Nico pancakes for a later date, maybe in summer we can reconvene and try again. When there isn’t a whole school to watch us run face first at walls.” Was he being too forward? Was that too far in time to be talking about now? He didn’t want to make Eryn feel like he was forcing his own opinions down her throat. Especially not when they’ve first met.

Nico wasn’t expecting her to grab his hand and drag him through the barrier between the train station and the magical world. Neither was his Nonno apparently, who lost his grip on the boy's shoulders as the two children finally officially arrived at platform nine and three-quarters.

Looking around he felt overwhelmed in the best way possible. There were so many people, so many families and so much chatter. It was loud the place bustling with activity, the train waiting on the tracks as some people boarded and others stayed for prolonged goodbyes to their families. The words on his tongue died out as he looked around in silent awe, this was nothing like Diagon Alley, but it was so similar too in a way. He didn’t know the word, the one thing both places had in common. His knowledge went blank as he took it all in. Turns out, he didn’t need to know the word off the top of his head either, Eryn already had him covered in that regard.

Alive, yeah that felt right. Both places felt more alive than anything, not just because of the people. But because of the very walls and ground around them, breathing an essence of life, of humanity and wizardry into the air around them. Maybe that's what, no it had to be what made both places feel so different. So strange and mysterious yet familiar. Nico wondered if this is what it would feel like in Hogwarts. A place filled to the brim with magic and students spending their lives in those halls. Learning and growing on their own, each with their own dreams and aspirations.

On their own.

Nico looked over his shoulder to see his grandfather walk through onto the platform. An anger lying in his pale sky-blue eyes that Nico hadn’t seen in quite a while. Anger that didn’t match the rest of his face which stayed deadpanned. Nico shook his head in a silent plea, he wanted to enjoy these last few moments with his grandfather without any anger. The older man stayed silent and still, then walked over to stand by the two. Relenting just this once, agreeing to put his own anger on hold. Nico smiled and grabbed Lorenzo’s hand. Holding onto his family and potential friend, acting almost like a bridge between the too.

“Yeah, yeah it really is. You know, Eryn? I was not expecting the train to look like that.” He chimed in motioning to the vehicle in question with his head. “But I don’t really know what I was expecting to see anyway.” His smile was small but there, pausing for a moment as his head tilted slightly to the side. His eyes observing Eryn inquisitively, filled with curiosity.

“Well, are you ready to board?”

────────────────────────────────
| 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: @Eryn Bailey | 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈: N/A |
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Reducio

★Text ★ Speech ★ Interacting with: @Nico Romano★

“That's amazing! Though I do wonder how you get anything done. If I grew up with magic, I'm sure I'd be incredibly lazy. Why stand up to get things when a spell can do it for you?”

For a moment Eryn pauses to imagine the possibilities. What would her family look like in a magic world?

Her mother would still do the same thing, she knows that much. Though she'd be enamoured with the magical creatures that stalked the woods. Eryn can almost imagine her childhood in this reality being pulled from one remote city to another, chasing an animal she wasn't sure existed.

Her dad had never been one for such expeditions. Maybe he'd work in some kind of ministry position. The ministry of magic- something Eryn knows nothing about beyond the name, which she heard mentioned briefly when the ambassador for Hogwarts had arrived on her doorstep.

Her sister is easy. From the remarks she made incredibly quickly once Eryn told her, her place is obvious. She'd thrive in a political position, just like their dad. But her true place would be writing books and recording histories of muggle wizarding history and relationships. Two completely separate worlds, joined by subtle connections? She'd be thrilled.

She's so invested in the conversation she doesn't notice the slip until the words leave her mouth. The words scream muggleborn.

“In the shelter of our hideout, you may be as pancaked as you wish!” She cries dramatically, throwing her hands outwards. “There, the world cannot judge our love!” The words are light and humorous, shaking with laughter.

She realises what she said just a few moments beforehand. Oh. if I grew up with magic- oops.

A distraction is in order. well, through the barrier we go!

Eryn looked over her shoulder and noticed the stormy look on Nico’s grandfather’s face. Oops. I might have just got him in trouble. Oh well. The sooner they can get away from the platform, the better, in that case. She's not going to apologise. No, she saves those for when she really knows she's done something wrong. If she broke some unspoken rule no one has told her? If she betrayed the subtle prejudices they hold? That is their problem, not hers. A lesson she learnt a long time ago.

The best she can do is be there to support Nico. My new friend she declares.

Once Eryn gets over the shock of the platform, the awe takes over. She’s been to a lot of places in her life, from the rainforests of South America to the floodplains of Central Africa. Each of those places have been pools of life in their own right of course. Huge ecosystems and quakes to let you know that the even earth is living, huffing out clouds of smoke, angry. All of that, under your feet. None of those places quite compare to the sheer wonder of the platform though. The magic buzzes in the air, as if drawing more attention to the life residing among the bricks.

“It's very… old?” She pauses to contemplate “beautiful, in great condition, but you'd think a famous wizarding train would get some upgrades every now and then.”

She loves the look of excitement on the other's face. So hidden, but definitely there, trapped under a small smile and a gentle tilt of his head. It reminds her of her sister. A little spark, reminding her she is not alone at this moment.

“Ready as I'll ever be!” She replies, stepping forward to join him.

ooc note: heyo, just wanted to give a heads up that my responses might slow down over the next few days. I'm buried in exams atm. That being said, i'll still reply, it just might take me a few days. Feel free to post in the express if you want to